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Ritz, state board to discuss teacher evaluations

By Eric Weddleeric.weddle@indystar.com
4:02 p.m. EDT April 8, 2014

Glenda Ritz, Superintendent of Public Instruction for Indiana, discusses with other board members during a State Board of Education meeting Dec. 20, 2013, at the Indiana Government Center.
(Photo:
Matt Kryger / The Star
)

The State Board of Education on Wednesday is expected to examine the statewide teacher evaluation data released this week amid concerns that a patchwork of evaluation systems make it difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions.

It will be the first public meeting at which Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz will have an opporuntity to address the results. The data shows that just 2 percent of educators — including teachers, counselors, principals and superintendents — needed improvement.

Some experts, educators and reform advocates have questioned why so few teachers across the state were found to be ineffective.

The 9 a.m. meeting is at the Indiana Government Center South auditorium. Proposed academic standards, high school remediation plans and takeover schools will also be discussed.

In a statement Monday, Ritz said the data showed public schools throughout Indiana are filled with effective and highly effective teachers, yet schools that struggle have a higher percentage of educators who fall within the improvement necessary and ineffective categories.

The board also is scheduled to discuss the controversial teacher licensing rules, that includes changes that would allow college graduates with a B-average to earn “adjunct” K-12 teaching licenses by passing one test, and reducing requirements for principals and superintendents.

Last month, the board held off approving the new rules, best known as REPA III, or rules for educator preparation and accountability, because members needed more time to consider public comments collected in the past year.

• Update on new K-12 academic standards for math and English intended to replace the Common Core standards on July 1. The board will not vote or make action on the draft at this meeting. The final proposal of the so-called “college and career ready” is expected to be released April 14.

• Presentations from each of state’s five take over schools

• Release of data on secondary schools with the highest graduation waiver rate percentages in the state. Under House Enrolled Act 1005, these schools could be required to establish a school wide remediation plan.